ICE attorney convicted of taking bribes from illegal aliens (Examiner.com)

ICE attorney convicted of taking bribes from illegal aliens
April 21, 4:55 AMImmigration Reform ExaminerDave Gibson

On Tuesday, Constantine Peter Kallas, assistant chief counsel at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Los Angeles was found guilty in U.S. District Court of several federal corruption charges.

The government began investigating Kallas, 39, in 2007 when an immigrant reported Kallas to federal officials for accepting bribes. The FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service all took part in the investigation, which culminated in Kallas‘ arrest in 2008.

Kallas was taken into custody in June 2008, after taking a bribe at the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Kallas took bribes from illegal aliens, in exchange for helping them get government benefits and dropping deportation cases against them.

Kallas even took a $7,000 bribe from his housekeeper to get a smuggling case against her daughter dropped. Kallas appeared in court on the daughter’s behalf and the case was dismissed.

When agents searched Kallas’ home, they found $177,000 in cash, hidden in a safe. and 24 official immigration files, prosecutors said. They also found documents with the names of illegal aliens and the amounts they paid Kallas.

Bank records showed that since 2000, Kallas had deposited more than $1million in addition to his salary. Kallas has been with ICE since 1998.

The jury found Kallas guilty of bribery, fraud, conspiracy, identity theft and obstruction of justice. He will be sentenced in August and faces up to 256 years in federal prison.

Kallas’ conviction brings to light the government corruption which many believe controls our immigration system.

In November 2009, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took Los Angeles family practice physician Levon Tebelekian, 72, into custody after an investigation revealed that he was charging immigrants a fee in exchange for disease-free medical reports.

Allegedly, Dr. Tebelekian was charging patients $150 each to fill-out a medical exam form with a favorable result. No examinations or tests were ever actually performed.

ICE claims that on one occasion, Dr. Tebelekian told an undercover agent that he would not "disturb his blood" and that he "did not look like he had AIDS.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Miguel Unzueta told the Associated Press: "Aspiring immigrants are required to undergo a medical exam as part of the application process to ensure they don't have any medical conditions or diseases that might pose a public health threat."

He continued: "By allegedly giving some of his patients a clean bill of health without even examining them, this physician potentially put our communities at risk.”

Dr. Tebelekian was charged with fraud and making false statements. In February 2010, he pleaded guilty to falsifying medical examinations as well as vaccinations for illegal aliens, he also surrendered his medical license.

Dr. Tebelekian will be sentenced on May 3, and could face up to 80 years in prison.